What is

The Mumbai Portal?

The Mumbai Portal is an audiovisual experience that merges cultures and bridges physical boundaries. It is an honest attempt towards meaningful interactions between people all over the world.

The Mumbai Portal will connect people who have pushed the boundaries of the human spirit, overcome challenges of all kinds and most importantly, who, on an ordinary day, would not be able to meet. The Mumbai Portal makes it possible for them to talk, exchange stories and spread their resilience, and perspective around the world. The Mumbai Portal makes it possible for them to have interactions that inspire!

How does it work?

Each Portal is a recycled shipping container or custom structure that has been transformed into a hub for these unique interactions. At the moment, there are 25 Portals all over the world, each equipped with the most sophisticated technology.

When you walk into one Portal you are met live, full-body, face-to-face, by someone in a distant Portal and can converse as if you were standing in the same space.

This technology gives Portal participants a chance to have a conversation with someone in another location as if they were right there in front of them.

Why do we need a Portal?

While new technologies allow us to connect across boundaries like never before, these connections are often restricted to those in our own communities.

By interacting through a Portal, participants step out of their comfort zones, talk to someone completely unrelated to their individual lives and discover the multitude of amazing things happening all over the world!

For more information on the global Portals network, please visit

What can you expect at

The Mumbai Portal?

Watch interaction videos

Schedule

Open to all

Apart from the scheduled interactions, there will be several sessions that are open for one and all, on all four days.

All you have to do is be present at Azad Maidan, Mumbai during the ‘open’ slots. Or you can register yourself for an open session that’s convenient for you.

Harsha Bhogle,

acclaimed cricket commentator, will meet a professor-cum-cricket enthusiast from New York

Dharavi Rockers, a band formed in Asia's largest slum will jam with a globally acclaimed percussion group from New York.

Prashant Godbole, one of India's most accomplished street photographers, will collaborate with a photographer from Chicago

Rajeev Raja, India’s premier flautist will collaborate with a Jazz vocalist from New York.

Michelle Kakade, Guiness World Record holder for running, will meet a marathoner from Afghanistan.

"It’s amazing technology. Makes it seem like you’re standing right in front of me."

Barack Obama, President of the United States

“Creating a global community centre one conversation at a time”

Fox News Sunday

“It doesn’t just give you those faces… but you feel you are… you are right there”

Samantha Power, US Ambassador to United Nations

“That was amazing. Should have one of these everywhere in the world.”

Morgan Spurlock, Actor

Kranti connects with Gaza Sky Geeks

What happens when two marginalised communities from two corners of the world come face-to-face? In this episode, the children of sex workers interact with the youth of Palestine. Watch the episode to see how the power of education can change the world.

Dharavi Rockers connect with Chicago’s Best

Some youth from Dharavi are using music to tell stories and make their mark on the world.

Rappers in Chicago are trying to escape a life of gang violence and crime through music.

Watch this episode to see what happens when these two groups share their stories and music with each other.

Indian army officers connect with a US Army veteran

The Indian Army loses a 100 soldiers every year to suicides. The US Army loses 22 veterans a day to suicides. How can we help our soldiers combat this invisible enemy called stress?

Watch this episode to find out.

<

>

The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon is the largest sporting event in Asia and India's biggest platform for charity.

But the reason for its existence itself, is that the SCMM symbolises the way the human spirit survives challenges of all kinds.

It only made sense for such an event to whole-heartedly support The Mumbai Portal and encourage India to get out there and discover the many, many inspiring stories popping up all over the world.

The team

Procam International is the country's leading sports and leisure management company. It has been involved with over 50 events worldwide. It is the promoter of Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon.

A specialised innovation lab started by chlorophyll, India's first end-to-end brand consultancy.

The lab has curated a unique ecosystem of technologists, artists, anthropologists and brand experts that are hand-picked for each brand project.

The unit aims to foster and promote collaborative innovation that makes a meaningful impact on society.

A multidisciplinary arts, design and technology collective focused on carving wormholes throughout the world.

They ground the connective potential of new technology in physical spaces to create more accessible, secure, and sacred encounters between diverse populations.

Making of

The Mumbai Portal

Why is this a SCMM initiative?

Four frenzied days. Four great artists.

The Mumbai Portal merges technological and artistic innovation as never before. The traditionally stark container came to life when four creative minds got together to reveal the limits that true passion can reach.

Bound together by their love for the arts and JJ School of Arts background, Ajinkya, Sanskar, Rakesh and Raja, rose to the occasion when they were asked to paint the Portal to reflect its purpose. Almost overnight, symbols of how strong the human spirit is, began appearing on the outsides of the container, painstakingly detailed and illustrated. Here’s a little more about the Mumbai artists that made this possible.

Ajinkya Sutar is a brand ideator and designer at chlorophyll, always looking for an opportunity to collaborate with different artists and experiment with styles, technique and media. He designed the identity for Patna Pirates, a team in India's Pro Kabbadi League, and has illustrated books for the NGO Katha and many others.

Sanskar Sawant is an illustrator and installation artist who has worked with Taxi Fabric, designed a rickshaw in Mumbai and four Electric Delhi rickshaws for the city's Electric Daisy Carnival festival. He travels extensively in India, soaks in the vibe wherever he is and paints countryside homes in return for a room!

Rakesh Kadam, is a mural artist and set designer and built a miniature film set for Tata Sky. He has enjoyed experimenting with different media and materials since childhood which spurred his love for art.

Raja Javir is a mural artist and set designer for various Marathi films and plays. He has painted wall murals for Asian Paints in Pune, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad.

The Mumbai Portal

4

40

22

1440

Days

Showcase speakers

Cities that Mumbai will be connected to

Minutes of inspirational conversations

Gallery

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Robin Chaurasiya (Kranti) Ex-US Air Force personnel who now runs Kranti, an NGO that works for education of children of sex workers in Mumbai

Robin Chaurasiya and Kranti are had a great time at the portal

Harish Iyer, a very well-known Indian equal rights activist at TheMumbaiPortal. He will be LIVE and portal' into Gaza very soon!

Harish Iyer poses with team Kranti

The mumbai portal team in action.

Chiresh Sinha , CEO chlorophyll innovation labs takes a chai break.

Harish Iyer poses for a selfie with team Kranti at the portal.

Harsha Bhogle at mumbai portal

2 - 13

<

>

2 - 14

<

>

8 - 17

<

>

Gladson Peter (Gladson Peter - One Man Band), closes the final day at TheMumbaiPortal ! Absolutely amazing story and performance from this man.